Queen Elizabeth is more famous than God, according to under-10s.
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The monarch topped a poll conducted to mark National Kids’ Day, which saw 1,800 of the UK’s youngsters asked who they thought the most famous person in the world was.
The 81-year-old queen was closely followed by JK Rowling’s boy wizard character Harry Potter, pushing last year’s winner, God, down to third place.
Meanwhile, the queen will overtake her ancestor Queen Victoria on Saturday (22.12.07) to become the oldest monarch in Britain’s history. Victoria died on 22 January 1901, aged 81 years, seven months, four weeks and one day old.
This weekend sees Elizabeth – who will turn 82 on 21 April, 2008 – overtake her great-great-grandmother as the oldest monarch. Peter Hennessy, the Attlee Professor of Contemporary British History at Queen Mary, University of London, said: “Even allowing for the improvement in medicine since Victoria it is remarkable. I cannot think of any other head of institution who has not put a foot wrong over such a long period of time.
“In those years she has presided over the most dignified withdrawal from the superpower status, which is no bad legacy. The way she has adapted, without succumbing to faddish fashions, is a gift of genius.”
The monarch is expected to spend her birthday at her royal Berkshire residence, Windsor Castle, with her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
The 10 Most Famous People in the World, According to Under-10s
1. Queen Elizabeth
2. Harry Potter
3. God
4. Father Christmas
5. Simon Cowell
6. Jesus
7. Jonny Wilkinson
8. Spider-Man
9. Prince William
10. David Cameron
